# Did Geraldo actually do this really stupid thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591 "2003-04-01T00:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/81 "2003-04-02T05:42:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BlackKnight \* > \*\*I think we should threaten to give Geraldo to Iraq if they don’t immediately and unconditionally surrender. I know, I know, that would be cruel (to Iraq), but desperate times call for desperate measures. \*\* **BlackKinght** I’m afraid that there are some things that are not permitted ---- even in war. What you suggest…Well, it goes beyond all contemplation. ---
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/82 "2003-04-02T07:25:39Z")
This type of controversy dates at least back to the American Civil War. The telegraph made it possible for battlefield reporters to convey the location and intentions of troops in the field. This resulted in a great amount of ill will between the military and reporters, with the military sometimes arresting reporters accused of revealing sensitive information. As for Geraldo: > [@](#): > > [“At one point, he actually revealed the time of an attack prior to its occurrence,” Lt. Mark Kitchens, a spokesman at Central Command, said yesterday morning.](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/01/international/worldspecial/01MEDI.html?ex=1049778000&en=a64d9f5350b9c29c&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE) That is definitely sensitive information. Rivera’s rush for a scoop led him to reveal information that should not have been given. I would be hard pressed to argue against a decision to order him to leave. And, from the same article, there’s this quote from Rivera: > [@](#): > > “It sounds to me like some rats at my former network, NBC, are spreading some lies about me,” Mr. Rivera said on the air. “You know, they can’t compete fair and square on the battlefield, so they’re trying to stab me in the back.” Sure, Geraldo, it’s always everyone else’s fault. I think the only downside to using Geraldo as a human shield would be the technical debate on whether he falls in the category of human or ass. ---
**Author:** ![Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Satisfying\_Andy\_Licious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satisfying_Andy_Licious)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/83 "2003-04-02T07:27:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*How is it possible that a sparrow fart like Geraldo is worth this much attention? Even if he sat there on Fox News and read out the entire US order of battle, it wouldn’t matter. > > The Oakland Raiders are playing St. Catherines College. If you give the girls the Raiders’ playbook, do they suddenly stand a chance? \*\* Does anybody die in a football game? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/84 "2003-04-02T11:02:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*I won’t believe it until I hear LENO mention it! He’s FAR more reliable than Letterman! > > [/joking] \*\* Well, you can believe it then. Leno did a piece on it last night. They put a “picture” of Geraldo reporting at other wars and, for example, giving away the secret that there were Greek soldiers inside the horse at Troy, or that the Frank family was hiding in the attice of “The warehouse directly behind me” ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/85 "2003-04-02T13:45:02Z")
[Where’s Geraldo?](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=579&e=1&cid=638&u=/nm/20030402/en_nm/iraq_media_rivera_dc) Some things are just better left unspun: At first, Geraldo attributed the accusation to a competitor, and I quote, “spreading some lies.” Now he has ‘volunteered’ to return to Kuwait, leaving the 101st that he was never officially embedded with. The pentagon is bit more clear (imagine that) stating that Geraldo “compromised operational security.” That’s a euphemism for “the bloody fool put soldiers at risk.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/86 "2003-04-02T14:49:15Z")
I agree with **Sua** on this one. Although it’s important whether he leaked sensitive information, it’s also important whether he broke his agreement with the military. In this case, it looks uncontroversial that he broke his agreement, and they’re entirely within their rights to send him home. It would be different if, say, he’d filmed the soldiers shooting the van full of women and children and the military wanted to suppress the footage. In such a case, I’d support his freedom of the press entirely. But if there’s ever a case in which the military is justified to curtail freedom of information, movement of troops in wartime has got to be it: it’s the ultimate in information that’s useful only to an enemy, not useful to a citizen at home. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Sinful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Sinful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinful)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/87 "2003-04-03T04:46:15Z")
Geraldo fired for telling the truth eh? figures… ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/88 "2003-04-03T05:02:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sinful \* > **Geraldo fired for telling the truth eh?** Yes, there is definitely some irony there. That’s for sure. The one time he tries it, it blows up in his face. He’ll probably be on MTV next month. Well, if Murdock buys MTV he will anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591/89 "2003-04-03T05:48:46Z")
I just love how people keep saying “He went down in the sand”. “Ooh, that’s right, Jerry; keep going…Oh yeah, baby, empty my vault!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-geraldo-actually-do-this-really-stupid-thing/165591.md?page=4)